Clots, postpartum bleeding and episiotomy

[Jen306]

I’m 3 weeks postpartum had to be taken to theatre for a forceps delivery with an episiotomy.
Lots of bleeding in hospital during my overnight stay, but settled by discharge and was getting progressively lighter (pink then brown blood lessening in amount each day).
About a week ago I lost a large-ish clot which had a pool of blood behind it that gushed out but then stopped once the clot had passed - very shocking but rang MAU and they asked lots of questions decided I didn’t need to go in and said only need to be worried if larger clot , heavy bleeding for prolonged time or feeling unwell (/signs of infection). A day or so after this had red bleeding again but not heavy, and quickly tapered off to very minimal brown staining in a pad until same thing happened again yesterday - although a smaller clot and less blood in the gush. Again felt absolutely fine in myself and bleeding stopped immediately but again left with red blood again although not much on pad, more when I go to the toilet and wipe.
Is this normal? Everything I read says this shouldn’t be happening by week 3!

As had a forceps delivery had to have episiotomy- When the midwife came to do a home visit at day 5 she did check my stitches and said some had failed and wound was gaping - she said it was clean, no signs of infection and just needed to keep doing what I was doing as couldn’t be re-stitched but was healing ok and would just take a little longer.
I’ve not had any further in person visits from the midwife but the rang and amongst other things was asked if I thought the wound was healing ok. Honestly I have no idea! She said as i had no pain and felt the swelling had gone down (had a huge dark deep bruise which was Very sore), could now comfortably walk without discomfort, and I wasn’t aware of a smell that it sounded ok - would the smell be really obvious? As I haven’t noticed anything.

I know 3 weeks isn’t really thst long given what my body went through but I’m just worried things might get missed or could cause long term issues!! (Probably just being paranoid!)

[IScreamForIceCreams]

Congrats on your baby!
I had forceps, episiotomy and massive bruising (and piles the size of melons!), I did pass large clots (prune size) on day 1 and 2 after delivery but certainly not at 3 weeks. Bleeding stopped entirely at about 4 wks. Epsiotomy bruising went down over a couple of weeks. Not saying my experience is text book example though, but might give you perspective.

[Jen306]

Thanks @IScreamForIceCreams I was told my the midwife at MAU that passing clots this late isn’t rare (perhaps not the norm either though!) - often triggered by breastfeeding sat down then standing up (which is what happened both times) - yes my bruising was caused by the difficult forceps delivery not the episiotomy itself but that has now gone down (that was such a relief when that went away!) just not sure how I’m supposed to know if it’s all healing ok or if it’s a problem.

Hopefully the red bleeding with subside today like it did post clot last week and go back to brown and light. I still feel perfectly fine in myself and not aware of any smell etc to indicate an infection but concerned they the midwife said the wound was gaping but she didn’t seem too bothered, but I guess they see it all the time? It all just feels so unknown to me!

[PurpleTygrrr]

Congrats on your baby!!
I bled a lot and for 6 weeks after forceps and episiotomy. I felt pretty rotten and ended up on iron tablets but was assured it was normal. Also... are you breastfeeding? TMI maybe but I found I had a bit more of a bleed after feeding each time for a few weeks too.
I hope it gets a bit easier for you x

[PurpleTygrrr]

Sorry I've just read your last post about the breastfeeding... exactly what used to happen to me. Sudden gush when I stood up after feeding.

[Jen306]

Thanks @PurpleTygrrr just nice to know I’m not the only one!

[IScreamForIceCreams]

Oh just remembered, I was on iron tablets too but they made me massively constipated so ended up on laxatives as well. Oh joy!

[Jen306]

Update now nearly 5 weeks postpartum. And apologies if tmi
Still bleeding bright red; on my pads not very much is showing some times a little spotting others just light sometimes this is more brown or pink. But when I wipe after urinating there is more blood always bright red - sometimes dark red almost thicker blood that hangs like a string out but is just blood not tissue - it’s like it just doesn’t transfer to the pad fully.
No temperature or foul smell - occasionally some mild period like discomfort.
I feel totally fed up with the bleeding as other than that feel great.

6 week check at drs is delayed due to the current circumstances they’ve said they’re doing them as soon as they can but are running behind.

Everything I read seems to suggest I should have about stopped so not sure if somethings wrong with me?!

[Seeline]

I bled for 8 weeks with both mine - first was a pretty bad birth, but the second was perfectly normal.

[Bienentrinkwasser]

Quite often what happens is there is a kind of scab where your placenta has detached that comes away somewhere around day 10 and causes heavier bleeding to resume for a day or two. It’s possible that this has happened a couple of times and caused the heavier bleeding. As long as it settles back down and you aren’t soaking through pads in under an hour, I wouldn’t be too alarmed.

With regards to your stitches, it’s quite common for episiotomy wounds to ’break down’. As long as there is no offensive odour, it doesn’t feel hot or excessively swollen (obviously barring the first few days), and there is no pus, I wouldn’t worry. I would recommend looking at it regularly to keep an eye on it though.

[Jen306]

@Seeline thanks - I think it’s just everything keeps telling me it should have stopped by now it makes me paranoid, plus i am probably getting impatient!

[Jen306]

@Bienentrinkwasser thanks yes I’d heard of that happening but just feels like been going on longer than I’d heard that described. Like you say I suppose could have happened more than once. No definitely not soaking through pads as I say it only seems heavy when I Go to the loo and wipe not actually on the Pads.

I’ve tried looking At the stitches I know they started to breakdown as midwife checked me on day 5 but to be honest I find it really hard to see even with a mirror (And as great as my hubby is I am not asking him to check). Will have to try again/ harder maybe!!

[muddlingmyway]

I bled for probably 8 or 9 weeks pp. No one seemed too worried when I mentioned at 6 week check. I thought it would never stop but it did eventually. Sounds positive on the episiotomy if you are comfortable. Does it all feel ok? My stitches also came out and I ended up with various problems that needed some minor surgery to sort, however I was in a lot of pain so it was obvious something was wrong.

[Jen306]

@muddlingmyway yes I feel like it’s never going to stop which I know is irrational but definitely how it feels!
I feel ok - sometimes it aches where the episiotomy was when I walk too far but I’m never in pain and most of the time no discomfort either.

I’ve just tried looking and I wish I hadn’t all I can see is blood round there and it disguises everything else to me - just looks like a car crash!

[strawberrysummer19]

@Jen306 hi I know this is an old post but just wondered what the result was ?
My delivery was similar and I'm 3 wks pp just passed a prune size clot and wondering how long it took you to recover ?